Kildownet Graveyard is the oldest burial ground in Achill Island, Co. Mayo, Ireland. It dates back to the 1700’s and contains the burial plots of families from every village in the parish of Achill it also includes the graves of the Clew Bay and Kirkintilloch disasters (http://www.mayonews.ie/news/2385-achill-tragedy). A local committee in conjunction with the Achill Historical and Archaeological Society intend to carry out a survey of the graveyard and digitally record every headstone and record their inscriptions. Every headstone will be photographed with a brief history of the families buried there.
When the survey is complete it will be assessable free of charge on a website where those who wish to find their family graves and can do so by using a number of criteria such as surname, place of birth, date of death etc.
The Achill Field School who have previously completed an excellent survey in the Old Graveyard in Bunnacurry will be commissioned to carry out this survey.
The total cost of the project will be in the region of €10,000 and the committee are delighted that Martin Creighton, Patrick McLoughlin and their friends have offered to help us fundraise for this worthwhile project by organising a motor cycle run (c. 530miles ea way) from London to Achill. Marty, Patrick and friends will leave London on Thurs 31st May and hope to arrive at the Old Cemetery, Kildownet in Achill on the evening of Fri 1st June at approx. 18:00.

Our start point will be at Wickes, 317 Cricklewood Broadway, London NW2 6JN where we will be looking to meeting at approx 12:30 and setting off at 13:00 on the 31st May. On Friday 1st June we will be setting off from Dublin Port at approx midday for the final part of our journey.
Anyone wishing to join us on this bike ride, either on the English side or the Irish (or both!) would be more than welcome and it would be much appreciated. There will be many stops on either side of the pond so feel free to come and say hello.
You can contact us via Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn or donate directly to our JustGiving page.
We would ask you to please support Marty, Patrick and friends and help us record our heritage.